“Autism Every Day” screening at Film Fest

She decided to do something, and two years after founding Autism Speaks, her voice – and the voices of thousands of other families coping with autism every day – are finally being heard.

Nowhere will they be heard more loudly than on-island his week. “Autism Every Day,” the 44-minute documentary she and her husband Bob, the former chief executive officer of NBC Universal, financed and produced, will air twice at the Nantucket Film Festival, today at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 9:30 a.m., both at Bennett Hall.

“This is exactly what we’ve been doing for the last two years, raising awareness,” Wright said yesterday from New York before making the trip to the island. “Awareness is crucial.

I was shocked when Christian was diagnosed. I had no idea there were so many people dealing with this. Where was the media? Where were the people in the trenches? They were in the trenches. They were busted, broke. Taking care of a child with autism is a 24/7 job. It’s up to us to get out there for all the children and families suffering.”

Autism is a neuro-biological developmental disorder characterized by impaired communication, severe deficits in social interaction and emotional detachment.

Since starting Autism Speaks, Wright has been a tireless advocate for autism research and awareness, lobbying for the passage of the Combating Autism Act, which President Bush signed into law last year, and which appropriates $1 billion for autism research over five years. The organization has also merged with the National Alliance for Autism Research to fund biomedical research to combat the disorder.

Part of Autism Speaks’ effort to raise awareness includes a three-year Ad Council public service advertising campaign, the first public service announcement of which aired at the Nantucket Film Festival last year.

“We need the public to understand the struggles of these families. My first impression was of ‘Rain Man’,” Wright said. “But that’s just a small part of it. Autism is an enormous problem in this country and around the world. The costs are prohibitive, and they’re not covered by insurance. It’s just a travesty.”

Wright is also helping organize an autism walk on Nantucket, which is currently scheduled for Aug. 25, starting at Jetties Beach.

Wright’s grandson Christian, who will turn 6 in August, was diagnosed with autism in 2004. Shortly before the disorder was detected, he was developing normally – he knew about 800 words and was potty-trained – but then his speech quickly regressed and he returned to diapers.

Today, he receives extensive therapy and attends a specialized school that caters to the needs of autistic children. It’s tuition is in the neighborhood of $100,000 a year, not unusual for schools of its kind.

“I was just with him last night. He’s doing so much better,” Wright said. “He’s a happy little boy, but he struggles so hard. I’m so proud of him.”

As for “Autism Every Day,” Wright and her husband financed the conversion of a 13-minute short film by Lauren Thierry into the 44-minute version that will air at the festival. It offers viewers a sometimes harrowing look at the lives of eight families struggling to raise children with autism, a disorder for which there is currently no cure.

The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival to sold-out theaters, and Wright said her goal is to ultimately see it air on television. It is also available to teachers and school systems nationwide free of charge. It’s already been shown in Los Angeles classrooms.

“I hope it eventually gets on commercial TV,” she said. “I hope everybody in the country sees it. You don’t leave it without a tear in your eye. Finally, autism is speaking, and the world is listening.”

“Autism Speaks” will be screened today at 5 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, both at Bennett Hall, 62 Centre St.

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